Nash hopes to get assists mark out of the way

EL SEGUNDO – The chase is on, and Steve Nash would just as soon get it over with.

The Lakers 40-year-old point guard is five assists away from rising to third on the all-time list, a mark he could achieve Tuesday when the Lakers host the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

“I think Mike [D’Antoni] really wants me to get this assists thing out of the way,” Nash said. “So which now I’d really like to get out of the way too, frankly, because it’s out there in the air and everybody’s talking about it.”

Nash notched 7 assists in Sunday’s loss to the Clippers, elevating his career tally to 10,330. Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson is third on the list with 10,334.

“Frankly it’s one of those things I want to get it over with, in a way, if I can,” Nash said. “If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. It’s not the end of the world, but if I can put it behind me it would be nice not to have to talk about it.”

John Stockton is the NBA's all-time leader in career assists with 15,806, while Jason Kidd is second with 12,091.

Nash has been limited to 13 games this season by nerve issues in his back. He has one year remaining on his contract with the Lakers and has said he intends to try to play through the end of the deal.

Nash and D’Antoni earlier indicated that the veteran would be held out for the rest of the season starting Tuesday, when point guard Jordan Farmar will return to the lineup after missing 11 games with a strained groin. However, the Lakers will dress all three point guards, including starter Kendall Marshall, against the Rockets.

With five games remaining, it’s unclear how many more appearances Nash will make.

“I could play all or I could be done tonight,” he said. “It’s up to my body and the team and coach and what we decide to do. Frankly, probably the smart thing to do is not play any of them and just go into the summer healthy.”

But health has not been a luxury enjoyed by the Lakers this season. On Monday, the team announced that small forward Kent Bazemore will miss the remainder of the season with a torn tendon in his right foot. Bazemore was acquired from the Lakers prior to the trading deadline in the deal that sent Steve Blake to Golden State.

“I feel sorry for him,” Farmar said. “He can play with a lot of energy, a lot of pride. He was a lot more skilled than a lot of people thought.

In 22 games, including 14 starts, Bazemore averaged 13.6 points for the Lakers.

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